An act to amend Section 1463.007 of the Penal Code, and to amend Sections 12807, 13365, 40508, 40509, 40509.5, and 40903 of, and to add Sections 40500.5 and 42003.5 to, the Vehicle Code, relating to infractions.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SB 185, as amended, Hertzberg.
Crimes: infractions.

Under existing law, a judgment that a person convicted of an infraction be punished by a fine may also provide for the payment to be made within a specified time or in specified installments. Existing law requires a court, in any case when a person appears before a traffic referee or judge of the superior court for adjudication of a violation of the Vehicle Code, upon request of the defendant, to consider the defendant’s ability to pay, as specified.

This bill would require the court, in any case involving an infraction filed with the court, to determine whether the defendant is indigent for purposes of determining what portion of the statutory amount of any associated fine, fee, assessment, or other financial penalties the person can afford to pay. The bill would provide that the defendant can demonstrate that he or she is indigent by
providing specified information, including attesting to his or her indigent status under penalty of perjury. Because a violation thereof would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The bill would require the court to reduce the base fine and associated fees by 80% if the court establishes that the defendant is indigent, and to provide alternatives to immediate payment of the sentence, including a payment plan option. The bill would require the court to determine the amount a defendant can afford to pay per month by using a payment calculator developed by the Judicial Council, as specified. For persons not found to be indigent, the bill would require that the monthly payment not exceed 5% of the defendant’s family monthly income, as provided. For defendants found to be indigent, the bill would require that monthly payments be $0 until the defendant’s financial circumstances change, and would require the remaining amount owed to be
discharged after 48 months in the interest of justice.

Existing law authorizes any county or court to implement a “comprehensive collection program” as a separate revenue collection activity, and requires the program to meet certain criteria, one of which is that the program engages in specified activities in collecting fines or penalties. One of those activities is initiating suspensions or holds for driver’s licenses, as specified.

This bill would delete initiating suspensions or holds for driver’s licenses from the list of activities the program may engage in. The bill would require the program to provide a payment plan option based on the debtor’s ability to pay and requires the program to notify the defendant of his or her right to an indigency determination for infractions.

Existing law requires, whenever a person is arrested for any nonfelony violation of the Vehicle Code,
or for a violation of an ordinance of a city or county relating to traffic offenses and he or she is not immediately taken before a magistrate, the arresting officer to prepare in triplicate a written notice to appear in court or before a person authorized to receive a deposit of bail, as specified. Existing law further requires the officer to deliver one copy of the notice to appear to the arrested person, and the arrested person in order to secure release must give his or her written promise to appear in court or before a person authorized to receive a deposit of bail.

This bill would require the court to send the defendant a reminder notice of his or her promise to appear in court and would require the reminder notice to include specified information, including an appearance date and location and the right to an indigency determination.

Existing law authorizes the court to notify the Department of Motor Vehicles when a
person has failed to appear or failed to pay a fine or bail, with respect to various violations relating to vehicles. Existing law requires the department to suspend, and prohibits the department from issuing or renewing, a person’s driver’s license upon receipt of one of those notices, as specified.

This bill would instead require the court to issue a notice to the defendant that he or she must appear in court within 60 days, as specified, if the person has failed to appear, and authorizes the court to notify the department only when the defendant does not appear within those 60 days. The bill would also repeal the provisions authorizing the court to notify the department of a failure to pay a fine or bail. The bill would repeal certain provisions prohibiting the department from issuing or renewing a
person’s driver’s license upon receipt of a notice of a defendant’s failure to pay, with respect to designated violations.

Existing law provides that a person willfully violating his or her written promise to appear or a lawfully granted continuance of his or her promise to appear in court or before a person authorized to receive a deposit of bail, or willfully failing to pay bail in installments or a certain lawfully imposed fine, as specified, is guilty of a misdemeanor.

The bill would instead provide that a person willfully violating his or her written promise to appear or a lawfully granted continuance of his or her promise to appear in court or before a person authorized to receive a deposit of bail is guilty of an infraction if it is on more than one case in the past 5 years. The bill would require, for the first occurrence of any of these violations, the person to be instructed to appear before a judge or a clerk of the court to schedule a new hearing date within 60 days of the willful violation. The bill would make it an infraction to fail to
appear within these 60 days. infraction. By changing the definition of a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would repeal the misdemeanor for willfully failing to pay bail in installments or a lawfully imposed fine.

This bill would declare that its provisions do not alter existing law related to suspension of the privilege to operate a motor vehicle in connection with violations relating to reckless driving or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, as specified.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that no
reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Digest Key

Bill Text

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

The Legislature finds and declares that this act shall not be interpreted to alter existing law regarding suspension of the privilege to operate a motor vehicle in connection with any of the following violations:

(a) Reckless driving, pursuant to Section 23103 of the Vehicle Code.

(b) Reckless driving proximately causing bodily injury to a person, pursuant to Sections 23104 and 23105 of the Vehicle Code.

(c) Driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or both, pursuant to Section 23152 of the Vehicle Code.

(d) Driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or both, and causing bodily injury to another person, pursuant to Section 23153 of the Vehicle Code.

SEC. 2.

Section 1463.007 of the Penal Code is amended to read:

1463.007.

(a) Notwithstanding any other law, any county or court that operates a comprehensive collection program may deduct the costs of operating that program, excluding capital expenditures, from any revenues collected under that program. The costs shall be deducted before any distribution of revenues to other governmental entities required by any other law. Any county or court operating a comprehensive collection program may establish a minimum base fee, fine, forfeiture, penalty, or assessment amount for inclusion in the program.

(b) Once debt becomes delinquent, it continues to be delinquent and may be subject to collection by a comprehensive collection program. Debt is delinquent
and subject to collection by a comprehensive collection program if any of the following
conditions are met:

(1) A defendant does not post bail or appear on or before the date on which he or she promised to appear, or any lawful continuance of that date, if that defendant was eligible to post and forfeit bail.

(2) A defendant does not pay the amount imposed by the court on or before the date ordered by the court, or any lawful continuance of that date.

(3) A defendant has failed to make an installment payment on the date specified by the court.

(c) For the purposes of this section, a “comprehensive collection program” is a separate and distinct revenue collection activity that meets each of the following criteria:

(1) The program identifies and collects amounts arising from delinquent court-ordered debt, whether or not a warrant has been issued against the alleged violator.

(2) For infraction violations, the program provides a payment plan option based on the debtor’s ability to pay, pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 42003.5 of the Vehicle Code, if applicable. Notwithstanding subdivision (a), the comprehensive collection program shall not assess an administrative fee for entering into a payment plan or making recurring payments pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 42003.5. The program is responsible for notifying the defendant of his or her right to an indigency determination.
sending the notice described in subdivision (c) of Section 40500.5 to the defendant.

(3) The program complies with the requirements of subdivision (b) of Section 1463.010.

(4) The program engages in each of the following activities:

(A) Attempts telephone contact with delinquent debtors for whom the program has a telephone number to inform them of their delinquent status and payment options.

(B) Notifies delinquent debtors for whom the program has an address in writing of their outstanding obligation within 95 days of delinquency.

(C) Generates internal monthly reports
to track collections data, such as age of debt and delinquent amounts outstanding.

SEC. 3.

12807.

The department shall not issue or renew a driver’s license to any person:

(a) When a license previously issued to the person under this code has been suspended until the expiration of the period of the suspension, unless cause for suspension has been removed.

(b) When a license previously issued to the person under this code has been revoked until the expiration of one year after the date of the revocation, except where a different period of revocation is prescribed by this code, or unless the cause for revocation has been removed.

(c) When
the department has received a notice pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 40509 or subdivision (a) of Section 40509.5, unless the department has received a certificate as provided in those sections.

SEC. 4.

Section 13365 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:

13365.

(a) Upon receipt of notification of a violation of subdivision (a) of Section 40508, the department shall take the following action:

(1) If the notice is given pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 40509, if the driving record of the person who is the subject of the notice contains one or more prior notifications of a violation issued pursuant to Section 40509 or 40509.5, and if the person’s driving privilege is not currently suspended under this section, the department shall suspend the driving privilege of the person.

(2) If the notice is given pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 40509.5,
and if the driving privilege of the person who is the subject of the notice is not currently suspended under this section, the department shall suspend the driving privilege of the person.

(b) A suspension under this section shall not be effective before a date 60 days after the date of receipt, by the department, of the notice given specified in subdivision (a), and the notice of suspension shall not be mailed by the department before a date 30 days after receipt of the notice given specified in subdivision (a).

The suspension shall continue until the suspended person’s driving record does not contain any notification of a violation of subdivision (a) of Section 40508.

SEC. 5.

Section 40500.5 is added to the Vehicle Code, to read:

40500.5.

(a) (1) The court shall send the defendant a reminder notice of his or her promise to appear in court. The court shall send this reminder notice, via certified United States Postal Service mail, return receipt requested, mail to the address shown on the notice to appear described in subdivision (a) of Section 40500 unless the defendant otherwise notifies the court of a different address.

(2) The court may satisfy the requirement described in paragraph (1) by sending the reminder notice by regular United States Postal Service mail and by sending
shall also send the notice electronically, including, but not limited to, by email or text message, to the defendant if he or she provided an email address or telephone number to the court or to the law enforcement officer at the time of signing the written promise to appear described in subdivision (a) of Section 40504.

(3) Failure to receive the reminder notice does not relieve the defendant of his or her obligation to appear in court by the date stated in the notice to appear.

(b) In addition to information obtained from the notice to appear, the reminder notice to appear shall contain at least the following information:

(1) An appearance date and location.

(2) Whether a court appearance is mandatory or optional.

(3) The total bail amount and payment options.

(4) The notice about traffic school required under subdivision
(d) of Section 42007, if applicable.

(5) Notice that a traffic violator school will charge a fee in addition to the administrative fee charged by the court.

(6) The potential consequences for failure to appear, including, but not limited to, a driver’s license hold or suspension, a civil assessment of up to three hundred dollars ($300), a new charge for failure to appear, a warrant of arrest, or some combination of these consequences, if applicable.

(7) The potential consequences for failure to pay a fine, including, but not limited to, a civil assessment of up to three hundred dollars ($300), a new charge for failure to pay a fine, a warrant of arrest, or some combination of these consequences, if applicable.

(8) The right to an indigency determination, including clear language about how the defendant can request the determination, what that determination will entail, the availability of an installment payment plan, the availability of a reduction of the amount owed by 80 percent, and any documents needed by the court to make a determination about the defendant’s ability to pay.

(9) Notice of the option to pay bail through community service and installment plans.

(10) Contact information for the court, including the court’s Internet Web site.

(11) Information regarding trial by declaration, informal trial, if available, and telephone or Internet Web site scheduling
options, if available.

(12) Requirements and procedures for correctable violations.

(c)After a case has been adjudicated, the court shall send the defendant a reminder notice regarding payment of fines no later than 30 days before the payment deadline. The court shall send this reminder notice to the address shown on the notice to appear unless the defendant otherwise notifies the court of a different address.

(d)In addition to information obtained from the notice to appear, the reminder notice to pay shall contain at least the following information:

(1)The total payment due and the fine payment deadline.

(2)Clear instructions about how the defendant can make payments.

(3)Clear instructions about how the defendant can request an extension of the fine payment deadline.

(4)The potential consequences for failure to pay a fine, including, but not limited to, a civil assessment of up to three hundred dollars ($300), a new charge for failure to pay a fine, a warrant of arrest, or some combination of these consequences, if applicable.

(5)The right to request an indigency determination if there are changed circumstances that can affect the defendant’s ability to pay, including language about how the defendant can request the determination, what that determination will entail, the availability of an
installment payment plan or any other available alternative, including, but not limited to, community service, and the submission of any documents needed by the court to make a determination about the defendant’s ability to pay.

(6)Contact information for the court, including the court’s Internet Web site.

(e)If the defendant willfully defaults on payment after coming into compliance with an installment payment plan, the court shall send the defendant a notice that he or she has failed to make one or more payments and has 60 days to either resume making payments or to request that the court modify the payment amount. The court shall send this notice to all of the defendant’s known mailing addresses, including, but not limited to, the address on the notice to appear and the
last known address recorded by the Department of Motor Vehicles. This notice shall contain the following information:

(1)The defendant’s right to request a modification of the installment payment.

(2)The availability of an installment payment plan.

(3)The defendant’s right to request an indigency determination.

(4)Clear language about how the defendant can request an indigency determination and what that determination will entail.

(5)Documents needed by the court to make an indigency determination.

(f)

(c) (1) If the court refers a case to a comprehensive collection program, as described in Section 1463.007 of the Penal Code, as delinquent debt, the comprehensive collection program shall send a notice to the defendant containing the following information:

(A) The availability of an installment payment plan.

(B) The defendant’s right to request an indigency determination. determination if the court has not already made a determination, or, if due to changed circumstances, the defendant
seeks a new indigency determination pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 42003.5.

(C) Clear language about how the defendant can request an indigency determination and what that determination will entail.

(D) Documents needed by the court to make an indigency determination.

(2) If the case is unadjudicated, the comprehensive collection program shall send a notice to the defendant containing information about how the defendant can schedule a hearing for adjudication of the underlying charges or charges without payment of the bail amount.

SEC. 6.

Section 40508 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:

40508.

(a) (1) A person willfully violating his or her written promise to appear on more than one case within the past five years, or willfully violating a lawfully granted continuance of his or her promise to appear in court or before a person authorized to receive a deposit of bail on more than one case in the past five years, is guilty of an infraction regardless of the disposition of the charge upon which he or she was originally arrested.

(2) A person willfully violating his or her written promise to appear for the first time, or willfully violating a lawfully granted continuance of his or her promise to appear in court or before a person
authorized to receive a deposit of bail for the first time, is not guilty of an infraction. The person shall be instructed to appear before a judge or a clerk of the court to schedule a new hearing date within 60 days of the willful violation. A person failing to appear within the 60 days is guilty of an infraction. failing to pay bail in installments as agreed to under Section 40510.5 or a lawfully imposed fine for a violation of a provision of this code or a local ordinance adopted pursuant to this code, within the time authorized by the court and without lawful excuse having been presented to the court, on or before the date the bail or fine is due, is guilty of an infraction regardless of the full payment of the bail or fine after that time.

(b) A person
willfully failing to comply with a condition of a court order for a violation of this code, other than for failure to appear or failure to pay a fine, is guilty of a misdemeanor, regardless of his or her subsequent compliance with the order.

(c) If a person convicted of an infraction fails to pay bail in installments as agreed to under Section 40510.5, or a fine or an installment thereof, within the time authorized by the court, the court may, except as otherwise provided in this subdivision, impound the person’s driver’s license and order the person not to drive for a period not to exceed 30 days. Before returning the
license to the person, the court shall endorse on the reverse side of the license that the person was ordered not to drive, the period for which that order was made, and the name of the court making the order. If a defendant with a class C or M driver’s license satisfies the court that impounding his or her driver’s license and ordering the defendant not to drive will affect his or her livelihood, the court shall order that the person limit his or her driving for a period not to exceed 30 days to driving that is essential in the court’s determination to the person’s employment, including the person’s driving to and from his or her place of employment if other means of transportation are not reasonably available. The court shall provide for the endorsement of the limitation on the person’s license. The impounding of the license and ordering the person not to drive or the order limiting the
person’s driving does not constitute a suspension of the license, but a violation of the order constitutes contempt of court.

SEC. 7.

Section 40509 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:

40509.

(a) Except as required under subdivision (b) of Section 40509.5, if a person has violated a written promise to appear or a lawfully granted continuance of his or her promise to appear in court or before the person authorized to receive a deposit of bail, or violated an order to appear in court, including, but not limited to, a written notice to appear issued in accordance with Section 40518, the magistrate or clerk of the court shall issue a notice to the defendant that he or she is required to appear in court within 60 days for any violation of this code, or any violation that can be heard by a juvenile traffic hearing referee pursuant to Section 256 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, or any violation of any
other statute relating to the safe operation of a vehicle, except violations
not required to be reported pursuant to paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (6), and (7) of subdivision (b) of Section 1803. The notice shall include notice of the defendant’s right to an indigency determination. If the defendant does not appear within 60 days of the original date, the magistrate or clerk of the court may give notice of the failure to appear to the department for any violation of this code, or any violation that can be heard by a juvenile traffic hearing referee pursuant to Section 256 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, or any violation of any other statute relating to the safe operation of a vehicle, except violations not required to be reported pursuant to paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (6), and (7) of subdivision (b) of Section 1803. If thereafter the case in which the promise was given is adjudicated or the person who has violated the court order appears in court
or otherwise satisfies the order of the court, the magistrate or clerk of the court hearing the case shall sign and file with the
department a certificate to that effect and any driver’s license hold shall be removed. The court shall not issue a bench warrant for a failure to appear.

(b) (1) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), the court may notify the department of the total amount of bail, fines, assessments, and fees authorized or required by this code, including Section 40508.5, that are unpaid by any person.

(2) Once a court has established the amount of bail, fines, assessments, and fees, and notified the department, the court shall not further enhance or modify that amount.

(3) This subdivision applies only to violations of this code that do not require a mandatory court appearance, are not contested by the
defendant, and do not require proof of correction certified by the court.

(c) With respect to a violation of this code, this section is applicable to any court that has not elected to be subject to the notice requirements of subdivision (c) of Section 40509.5.

(d) Any violation subject to Section 40001, which is the responsibility of the owner of the vehicle, shall not be reported under this section.

SEC. 8.

Section 40509.5 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:

40509.5.

(a) Except as required under subdivision (b), if, with respect to an offense described in subdivision (d), a person has violated his or her written promise to appear or a lawfully granted continuance of his or her promise to appear in court or before the person authorized to receive a deposit of bail, or violated an order to appear in court, including, but not limited to, a written notice to appear issued in accordance with Section 40518, the magistrate or clerk of the court shall issue a notice to the defendant that he or she is required to appear in court within 60 days for a violation of this code, a violation that can be heard by a juvenile traffic hearing referee pursuant to Section 256 of the Welfare and Institutions
Code, or a violation of any other statute relating to the safe operation of a vehicle, except violations not required to be reported pursuant to paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (6), and (7) of subdivision (b) of Section 1803. The notice shall include notice of the defendant’s right to an indigency determination. If the defendant does not appear within 60 days of the original date, the magistrate or clerk of the court may give notice of the failure to appear to the department for any violation of this code, or any violation that can be heard by a juvenile traffic hearing referee pursuant to Section 256 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, or any violation of any other statute relating to the safe operation of a vehicle, except violations not required to be reported pursuant to paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (6), and (7) of subdivision (b) of Section 1803. If thereafter
the case in which the promise was given is adjudicated or the person who has violated the court order appears in court and satisfies the order of the court, the magistrate or clerk of the court hearing the case shall sign and file with the department a certificate to that effect and any driver’s license hold shall be removed. The court shall not issue a bench warrant for a failure to appear, except as provided in subdivision (d).

(b) If a person charged with a violation of Section 23152 or 23153, or Section 191.5 of the Penal Code, or subdivision (a) of Section 192.5 of that code has violated a lawfully granted continuance of his or her promise to appear in court or is released from custody on his or her own recognizance and fails to appear in court or before the person authorized to receive a deposit of bail, or violated an order to appear in
court, the magistrate or clerk of the court shall give notice to the department of the failure to appear. If thereafter the case in which the notice was given is adjudicated or the person who has violated the court order appears in court or otherwise satisfies the order of the court, the magistrate or clerk of the court hearing the case shall prepare and forward to the department a certificate to that effect.

(c) Except as required under subdivision (b), the court shall mail a courtesy warning notice to the defendant by first-class mail at the address shown on the notice to appear, at least 60 20 days before sending a notice to the department under this section.

(d) If the court notifies the department of a failure to appear pursuant to subdivision (a), no arrest warrant shall be issued for an alleged violation of subdivision (a) of Section 40508, unless one of the following criteria is met:

(1) The alleged underlying offense is a misdemeanor or felony.

(2) The alleged underlying offense is a violation of any provision of Division 12 (commencing with Section 24000), Division 13 (commencing with Section 29000), or Division 15 (commencing with Section 35000), required to be reported pursuant to Section 1803.

(3) The driver’s record does not show that the defendant has a valid California driver’s license.

(4) The driver’s record shows an unresolved charge that the defendant is in violation of his or her written promise to appear for one or more other alleged violations of the law.

(e) Except as required under subdivision (b), in addition to the proceedings described in this section, the court may elect to notify the department pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 40509.

(f) This section is applicable to courts that have elected to provide notice pursuant to subdivision (c). The method of commencing or terminating an election to proceed under this section shall be prescribed by the department.

(g) A violation subject to Section 40001, that is the responsibility of the
owner of the vehicle, shall not be reported under this section.

SEC. 9.

Section 40903 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:

40903.

(a) Any person who fails to appear as provided by law and who has not shown good cause for a failure to appear within 20 days of the appearance date may be deemed to have elected to have a trial by written declaration upon any alleged infraction, as charged by the citing officer, involving a violation of this code or any local ordinance adopted pursuant to this code.

(b) Notwithstanding Division 10 (commencing with Section 1200) of the Evidence Code, testimony and other relevant evidence may be introduced in the form of a notice to appear issued pursuant to Section 40500, a notice of parking violation issued pursuant to Section 40202, a notice of
delinquent parking violation issued pursuant to Section 40206, a business record or receipt, a sworn declaration of the arresting officer, or a written statement or letter signed by the defendant.

SEC. 10.

Section 42003.5 is added to the Vehicle Code, to read:

42003.5.

(a) (1) In any case involving an infraction filed with the court, the court shall each defendant is eligible for, and shall be informed of his or her eligibility for, the court to determine whether the defendant is indigent for purposes of establishing the amount he or she can afford to pay. For purposes of this section, a defendant is indigent if any of the following criteria is satisfied:

(A) The defendant’s net income is at or below 250 percent of the federal poverty level by family size.
defendant meets the income criteria set forth in subdivision (b) of Section 68632 of the Government Code.

(B) The defendant receives benefits or services from
CalWORKs, CalFresh, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), State
Supplementary Payment (SSP), Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI), In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS), General Relief (GR), General Assistance (GA), Medi-Cal, extended foster care benefits, child care assistance administered by the State Department of Education, Unemployment Insurance, or health care provided under Part 5 (commencing with Section 17000) of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code. any of the public benefits listed in subdivision (a) of Section 68632 of the Government Code.

(C) The defendant, as individually determined by the court, cannot pay court fees without using money that normally would pay for the common necessities of life for the defendant and his or her family.

(2) The defendant can demonstrate that he or she is indigent by providing any of the following information:

(A) Proof of income from a pay stub, bank statement, rent and grocery receipts, or other form of evidence of earnings.

(B) Eligibility cards or electronic benefit cards or other forms of evidence for the programs described in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1).

(C) Attesting to his or her indigent status under penalty of perjury.

(b) (1) If the court establishes that the defendant is indigent for purposes of this section, the court shall reduce the base fine, penalty assessments,
any state or local fees, and any civil assessments by 80 percent on all charges pending against the defendant.

(2) If a defendant’s indigent status is found to have been willfully fraudulent, his or her fines and fees reduction shall be overturned and the full amount of fines and fees shall be restored.

(c) This section does not limit the discretion of a judicial officer to suspend or reduce fines and fees where appropriate or to dismiss actions in the interest of justice under Section 1385 of the Penal Code.

(d) The court shall conduct the indigency determination as soon as possible but no later than 20 days prior to determining whether a person
willfully failed to pay. Defendants whose cases are adjudicated in court shall receive a determination on the same day as their court appearance. A person who is indigent shall not be determined to have willfully failed to pay a fine.

(e) The court shall provide alternatives to immediate payment of the sentence for any infraction violation filed with the court, including a reasonable payment plan option for the remaining amount owed after any reduction due to indigency or other reasons are applied. “Reasonable payment plan” for a person who is not found to be indigent means monthly payments that are not more than 5 percent of a defendant’s family monthly income, excluding deductions for essential living expenses. “Essential living expenses” means, for purposes of
this subdivision, expenses for rent or house payment and maintenance, food and household supplies, utilities and telephone, clothing, medical and dental payments, insurance, school or child care, child or spousal support, transportation and auto expenses, including insurance, gas, and repairs, installment payments, laundry and cleaning, and other extraordinary expenses. A defendant who is found to be indigent under subdivision (a) above shall be placed on a zero dollar ($0) payment per month until his or her financial circumstances change.
The court shall allow payments for more than 90 days if necessary to establish a reasonable plan in cases subject to Section 42007. If, after 48 months, an indigent defendant’s financial circumstances have not changed, the court shall, in the interest of justice, discharge the remaining amount owed. The court shall determine the amount a defendant can afford to pay per month by using a payment calculator to be developed by the Judicial Council. This calculator shall be developed in consultation with stakeholders, including advocates for indigent defendants. The Judicial Council shall revise the calculator annually to reflect any increase in the California Necessities Index. An administrative fee shall not be assessed to enter into a payment plan or alternatives to payment.

(f) A defendant found indigent under subdivision (a) whose fines
and fees have been reduced or who has entered into a reasonable payment plan under subdivision (e), or both, shall inform the court if his or her income substantially changes before the fines and fees are completely paid or discharged in the interest of justice, whichever occurs first. If a defendant does not inform the court of any changes in their income, the court shall presume that the defendant remains indigent.

(g) If the court provides community service as an alternative to payment of the fines and fees, any calculation of the requisite number of hours must occur after the appropriate reductions due to indigency have been made pursuant to subdivision (e). A sign-up fee shall not be assessed in order to participate in community service. Community service shall include participation in programs required to receive public benefits,
mental health services, job training, educational programs, or other social services programs deemed eligible by the court. If the defendant elects community service, community service shall be performed in the county of the defendant’s choice. The number of hours of community service shall be calculated at a rate of 150 percent of the state minimum wage or the local minimum wage, whichever is higher. The court shall accept, in full satisfaction of the fine, fee, and assessment, performance of a number of community service hours corresponding to the base fine. The court shall take into consideration the ability of the defendant to perform community service and community service shall not conflict with employment, education, government-mandated activities, or any other obligation disclosed by the defendant.

(h) A person who enters into a
payment plan with the court and whose net income is subsequently reduced may, at any time after the judgment, request from the court a change in the payment plan due to his or her inability to pay the payment currently required.

(i) The court shall issue and file with the Department of Motor Vehicles the appropriate certificate pursuant to Section 40509 for any person who is determined to be indigent and enrolls in a reasonable payment plan. The certificate shall indicate that the participant has appeared in court, made a payment, or otherwise satisfied the court, if the driving privilege of that participant was suspended pursuant to Section 13365.

(j) The court shall issue and file with the Department of Motor Vehicles the appropriate certificate pursuant to Section 40509 for any
person in good standing in a comprehensive collection program pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 1463.007 of the Penal Code demonstrating that the person has appeared in court, made a payment, or otherwise satisfied the court, if the driving privilege was suspended pursuant to Section 13365.

(k) A person who has missed the deadline to pay or appear on a citation shall be granted an ability to pay determination that meets the requirements above, without first paying any bail, fine, or fee. If thereafter the person enters into or resumes a payment plan, the magistrate or clerk of the court hearing the case shall sign and file with the department a certificate to that effect and any driver’s license hold shall be removed.

(l) The defendant may request at any time that the court
review the payment plan if the defendant believes there was an error in the plan’s calculation. The court shall affirm, reverse, or modify any such judgment or order or direct a new trial or further proceeding.

SEC. 11.

No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.